Where to celebrate Halloween in Paris Region?

Autumn. Leaves turning russet-brown on the trees. Chestnut-gathering expeditions in the forest. And the first signs of the approaching chill. But there’s nothing like Halloween for really sending the shivers up your spine in October. For one night, darkness falls and the spirits of the dead rise up to frighten us all. To celebrate this occasion properly, why not enjoy our spooky programme of events in Paris Region!

Halloween events in Paris Region

If you love ghosts, ghouls and pumpkins, then come to Disneyland®Paris from 1st October to 4th November, where Disney’s most notorious villains will be waiting for you. And for even more thrills and chills, get a ticket for 31st October and spend an unforgettably terrifying night with Jafar, Cruella, Captain Hook and other witches till 2 o’clock in the morning. At the Paris Zoological Park, the Halloween programme features various children’s workshops as well as guided tours and storytelling where the animals in the tales and legends are the heroes. If you fancy a bit of cooking, head off to Choco-Story with your children to make some chocolates filled with… garlic, fish or broccoli! Gulp! Nerve-racking evenings at Grévin, from 25th to 31st October for 7 nights of nocturnal madness. Imagine. There you are at the dawn of the 20th century. Paris is booming, but thieves, murderers, beggars and maniacs have taken over the streets. Fear hangs in the air. And to get even more into the spirit of things, go there in fancy dress!

Take a tour of the macabre legends of Paris Region

If you enjoy gruesome tales, the City of Lights invites you to discover its dark side. As you walk around the centre of Paris, go through the gateway of the Square du Vert-Galant. Situated at the tip of the romantic Ile de la Cité, it hides a terrible secret. It was actually here in this spot in 1314 that the last masters of the Knights Templar Order were burnt at the stake. Legend has it that the two condemned men cursed the king of France Philip the Fair over thirteen generations as they were being burnt alive.

It is also said that in the Middle Ages, Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was beheaded in Montmartre, then marched to the north of the capital carrying his head under his arm. He collapsed after six kilometres, taking care to entrust his skull to a devout woman who was there. To find out about this story and the stories of the French kings, visit the Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis built on the very spot where the bishop fell. The monument contains the recumbent statues and tombs of numerous rulers of the country. Take a guided tour or get an audio guide and find out little anecdotes about the lives of these leading figures.

For an even more macabre tale, the Opéra Garnier takes you in the footsteps of the legendary Phantom of the Opera during a private guided evening tour after the monument has closed to the public. The phantom arose from a fire in 1873 and lived in the basement of the building, causing tragic accidents. It is also said that Box 5 was reserved for him. Dare you come and meet him?

Trick or treat ?

Halloween also means sweets and goodies. Visitparisregion reveals the best places to go to get your sugar fix. A genuine Ali Baba’s cave, “Bonbon du Palais” takes you on a tour of French confectionery through a selection of the country’s finest marshmallows, hard-boiled sweets, pralines and toffees. A true Parisian institution, “Mère de famille” situated near the Grands Boulevards takes you on a trip back in time among stalls with chocolates, marzipan animals and bags of toffees. And finally, at “Käramell” in the 9th arrondissement, try Merlin’s pills with their amazing powers!